9/13 The frustrating thing here is that Berlin will eventually send tanks just as it sent Panzerfausts and rocket launchers and artillery. But when it does, more Ukrainians that didn't have to die will be dead and there'll be even more distrust of Germany than there already is/
8/15 Scholz et al must have figured that they can get away with limited military assistance because public pressure would die down after a couple of months. Were they wrong? Doesn't look that way. I don't see a lot of people talking about tanks or infantry fighting vehicles anymore/
- Only 35% of Germans want the West to provide stronger military aid to Ukraine (down 9% since the beginning of the month) - Scholz' approval rating has gone down a little but it's still at 58%. He's not unpopular
7/8 The Minister President of Saxony and Deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) says Germany's basis of prosperity will collapse without gas from Russia. He's calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations with Putin.
Europeans shouldn't take America's protection for granted just because Trump is no longer in office. The United States is one or maybe two bad elections removed from going down a very dark path so relying on it to the extent that we do is a big risk.
This dependence isn't coming back. Moscow had exactly one chance to weaponise energy and they are using it to blunt Western responses to their invasion of Ukraine. After this card is played, it'll be off the table.
7/4 Moscow is counting on voters to lose interest in Ukraine. It's a moment that requires leadership. If Western politicians fail to convince their electorates that the cost of helping Ukraine is worth bearing, Kyiv will be in serious trouble.
If Scholz hadn't put Nord Stream 2 on ice, the Americans would have done it for him. There was some speculation that this is secretly what he wanted because he wanted to be rid of the problem without being the one to swing the axe. Looks like he's happy to get his hands dirty